Smart growth

Definition

Smart growth refers to urban planning strategies that promote sustainable and efficient land use, transportation, and community development. This approach focuses on creating compact, walkable neighborhoods with accessible public spaces, prioritizing public transportation, and minimizing urban sprawl. By emphasizing sustainability, smart growth aims to improve quality of life, reduce environmental impacts, and foster economic growth in urban areas.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Smart growth strategies aim to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by promoting walking, biking, and the use of public transportation.
2. One of the core principles of smart growth is to preserve open spaces and farmland by directing development towards existing urban areas.
3. Smart growth often includes mixed-use developments that provide housing, shopping, and services within close proximity to one another.
4. Community engagement is vital in smart growth planning to ensure that the needs and desires of local residents are met.
5. Investing in smart growth can lead to long-term economic benefits by increasing property values and attracting businesses to well-planned communities.

Review Questions

• How does smart growth help reduce urban sprawl and its associated problems?
  • Smart growth helps combat urban sprawl by promoting dense, compact development that uses land more efficiently. By encouraging the construction of walkable neighborhoods and investing in public transportation, smart growth reduces the need for expansive road networks and limits the spread of development into rural areas. This approach not only preserves open space but also minimizes environmental impacts such as habitat loss and increased greenhouse gas emissions from car travel.
• Discuss the relationship between smart growth and transit-oriented development in fostering sustainable communities.
  • Smart growth and transit-oriented development are closely linked as both advocate for reducing dependency on cars and enhancing public transportation options. By situating residential and commercial spaces near transit hubs, communities can encourage the use of mass transit while creating vibrant neighborhoods where people can live, work, and play without relying solely on vehicles. This synergy promotes a sustainable lifestyle, decreases traffic congestion, and enhances overall accessibility within urban settings.
• Evaluate how mixed-use development contributes to the goals of smart growth in urban planning.
  • Mixed-use development significantly contributes to the goals of smart growth by integrating various types of spaces—residential, commercial, recreational—into one cohesive area. This design not only fosters a sense of community but also encourages walking and biking since essential services are within easy reach. Moreover, by reducing the distances residents need to travel for daily activities, mixed-use developments help lower vehicle emissions, support local economies, and create lively neighborhoods that enhance overall quality of life.

Related terms

Urban Sprawl: The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural land, often leading to increased reliance on cars and loss of open space.

Transit-Oriented Development: A design strategy that focuses on developing residential and commercial spaces around public transportation hubs to encourage use of mass transit.

Mixed-Use Development: A type of urban development that combines residential, commercial, and recreational spaces in a single area to promote walkability and community interaction.